Improvement in scale-weights



R. L. HASSELL. Scale-Weights No. 220,975. Patented o t; 28, 1879.

I INVEN-TOR;

QimllfillMML ATTESTZ' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

RICHARD L. HASSELL, OF CHICAGO, lLLlNOlS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCALE-WEIGHTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220.975, dated October28, 1579; application tiled May 29, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

3e it known that I, RICHARD Lrr'rELL IIASSELL, of the city of Chicago,county of Cook, State of -1llinois, have invented certain Improvementsin Scale-Beams, of which the following is a specification.

My invention can be applied to any size and variety of scale; and it hasfor its objects, first, the production of a scale-beam of ordinarylength, yet possessing a large indicating capacity without the necessityof using detachable or separate weights; second, the production of ascale-beam in which the graduations and figures usually placed on thebeam itself are placed on dials on the movable poise, where they can bemore effectively. protected from dirt, grease, and the action of theatmosphere, and coi'isequently prevented from becoming obliterated orindistinct; and, third, the production of a scale-beam having a movablepoise not liable to become accidentally shifted by sudden knocks orjarring, yet capable of being rapidly moved from one end to the other ofthe beam, or an infinitesimal distance on the same, as required.

The invention consists in providing a scalebeam with a movable poisecontaining and carrying a system of gear-wheels having pointers orimlicating-hamls attached, which revolve before graduated and figureddials on the movable poise, by which arrangement the indicating-hand ismade to travel a great distance compared to thcdistance the poise itselftravels or the length of the beam; and my invention also consists inproviding a scale-beam with a mechanical device,hereinafter described,by which the poise is prevented from being accidentally shifted on thebeam, and by which it can be accurately moved infinitesimal dis tanceson the same when required.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,like letters of reference refer to like parts in the different figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation or external face view of my improved poiseand beam-bar. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section at line X X, showing theinterior of the poise with the faceplate and dial removed. tion at lineX X.

B, Figs. 1 and 2, is the bar of an ordinary scale-beam, in which theknife-edges, loops, balaneing ball, and other well-known facilities foradapting it to a scale are not shown. It differs, however, from the barof an ordinary scalebeam in having gear-teeth on the edge. The pinion A,Fig. 2, which meshes with these teeth, is fastened to the shaft. 1),Fig. 3, and on each end of said shaft is fastened the long hand F, whichI will call the fast-moving hand to distinguishitfrom the short orslowmoving hand S, which is fastened to and revolves with the gear C.Said gear C is fitted to turn freely on the shaft D, and revolves at adifferent speed from the shaft. This different speed is obtained bymeans of the gearwheels on the lower shaft, M, which are fastened tosaid shaft, and mesh with the pinion A and the gears C C in the mannershown.

W V are worm-wheels, which are fastened to shaft-D and revolve with it.K, Fig. 2, is the screw or worm fitting these wheels. The shaft of Kpasses through the sleeve 1%, and has fastened to its lower partthe..handle or head H, by which the worm can be turned. Shoulders formedby the handle 11 butting against the lower part of sleeve It, and by thescrew itself resting on the upper part, prevent K moving vertically, butpermit its shaft to revolve in the sleeve It, and the said sleeve hasprojecting studs or bearings V, on which it can oscillate in thedirection of the length of the beam.

The worm K is kept firmly pressed to its place by the springN, and inthis position locks the gearing and prevents the poise from 1nov in g onthe beam. The weight ofthe poise rests on the rollers E E, which havetheir bearings in boxes capable of being adjusted vertically in such amanner that the teeth of the pinion A are brought in close contact withthe teeth on the beam B. As the use of the rollers E E is merely todiminish friction and allow the poise to run easily on the beam, theymay be dispensed with in light poises where the fric tion isinconsiderable.

I am aware that there is nothing novel in applyin g rollers to themovable poise ofa scale beam to diminish friction. Itis important thatFig. 3 is a cross-secsystem.

the teeth of the pinion A should accurately fit theteeth in the beam, sothat backlash is avoided, and for this purpose it may in some cases bedesirable to mount the bearings of the gearing on springs, so that thepinion A will be pressed in close contact with the teeth in the beam.

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired toascertain the weight of an object placed on the platform of the scale,the operator grasps the poise by the thumbpiece T and the handle H,pressing H toward T, thus throwing the worm K out of gear and unlockingthe poise, which is then moved'alon g the beam until its proper positionon the same is approximately found. The handle H is then released, thespring presses the worm back to its place, and the device is locked.Then, by turning the worm K by the head H, the poise is slowly movedalong the beam until the exact point is found where it will balance theweight on the platform. It is evident that the act of moving the poisealong the beam causes the pointers F and S to revolve, and supposing theweight ofthe poise and the graduations, &c., to be properly adjusted tothe scale, the correct weight of the object on the platform will beindicated by the pointers on the dial. Of course, the larger unitssucl1as tens, thousands, tons, as the case may be-will be indicated by theslow-moving hand, and pounds, ounces, &c., by the fast-movin g hand.

In cases where it is not objectionable to have the larger units markedon the beam, the slowmoving hand and the mechanism for driving it willbe dispensed with, and by this means the gearing greatly simplified.Where both pointers are used it is evident that their relative rates ofrotation will be determined by the diameters and the number of thegear-wheels in the Of course, when desired, the size and weight of therunning poise may be diminished by using detachable weights on thecounterpoise suspended from the free end of the beam, as usual.

It will be seen that by making the pointer revolve before dials on theface of the poise, instead of the arrangement now in use, of having thepointer fast to the poise, and traveling in a simple longitudinal linealong the figures and graduatin g-marks on the face of the beam, Igreatly increase the distance or the length of the line over which thesaid pointer travels, and am, therefore, able to increase the weight ofthe running poise without crowding the graduations; and this advantagecan be increased to any extent by enlarging the dial, varying thediameter of, or increasing the number of, the gear-wheels in the system.

I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, asthey may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.Any well-known mechanical substitute for toothed gearing may be used forthe purpose of converting thelongitudinal motion of the movable poiseinto the rotary motion of the pointers, or the arrangement of thepointers and dials above described may be reversed-that is, the pointersmay be fast to the movable poise and the graduated dials made torevolve. An advantage of this arrangement would be that the glass plates0 0, which are used to cover the dials from dust, &c., could be ofgreatly-(1iminished size, as it would only be necessary to see a smallpart of the dial at a time namely, the part that came opposite thepointer.

Vhat I claim is- 1. In combination with a scale-beam, a movable poisecontaining and carryinga system of gear-wheels and pointers and dials,substantiall y as described.

2. In combination with a scale-beam and movable poise, the system ofgearing, substantially as described, and the hands F and S, so arrangedthat the act of moving the poise along the beam causes the said hands tore volve at different rates of speed.

3. In combination with a scalebeam and movable poise, the combinedlocking and moving device, consisting of the worm-wheels V \V, the wormK, sleeve It, spring N, handle H, and thumbpiece T, substz'ultially asand for the purpose described.

RICHARD LIT'IELL IIASSELL. iVitn esses:

WILLIAM E. MORGAN, HENRY BARTELL.

